WILMINGTON — Philip Michael Parnell joined our mom and dad in heaven on Tuesday, July 19, 2022.
Known as Philip to many, he will always be Mike to his family.
Mike was born on October 21, 1958, to Ralph Darryl Parnell and Miriam Elaine Holley Parnell. Due to the German Measles Epidemic of 1958, he was born deaf. Mike attended the Morganton School for the Deaf and the Wilson School for the Deaf. He was one of the first hearing impaired students to be integrated into the New Hanover County Public School System and graduated from New Hanover High School in 1978.
After high school, Mike attended Gallaudet University and graduated in 1983. After graduation he worked for a while with the Wilson School for the Deaf and then for a few years with the North Carolina Department of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Mike is survived by his sisters: Teresa Gedraytis (Ed), Trina Bollinger, Darlene Berthiaume (John), and Dawn Williams (Kevin).
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his memory to the charity of your choice.
A graveside service will be held at Sea Gate Cemetery on Tuesday, July 26, at 10:00 am.
